Blockchain is undoubtedly one of the fastest growing technologies of 2022 for a number of reasons, including its nearly impenetrable framework and secure and encrypted data storage. Although blockchain was initially a shadow of Bitcoin when it was released over a decade ago, the technology has grown to surpass Bitcoin’s popularity and, more importantly, its utility.
But because of the steep learning curve required to master this relatively new technology, many people have a difficult time getting into the space, despite expressing interest in blockchain. If you wish to learn blockchain, whether as a hobby or to advance your career, here are some skills to pick up in order to get a better understanding of the first digital decentralized ledger.
Blockchain’s social acceptance, adoption rate, and overall future existence are based on the premise that it can create a more secure ecosystem for transactions. It uses consensus, cryptographic layers, and other cybersecurity protocols in order to keep an immutable, transparent, and secure digital record. That said, even the largest enterprise blockchain platforms today are attacked by hackers and malware on a consistent basis. If successfully breached, blockchain may lose all credibility and whatever trust and progress it’s made in the past decade.
Principles of Software Development
Similar to cybersecurity, software development has broad and encompassing disciplines that play a crucial part in building out secure and scalable blockchain platforms. All software engineers must have a fundamental understanding of code in various programming languages and in blockchain design and development. As a blockchain developer, you’ll use your programming skills to handle network loads, facilitate data integrity and security, and ensure seamless processing of transactions. Aspiring blockchain engineers can start with small web development projects to gain a more in-depth understanding of the computer science principles that guide blockchain development. For instance, you can build out a website or mobile app that monitors and updates cryptocurrency prices in real time.
Data Structures
While it’s often put under the umbrella of software engineering or web development, data structures call for a section of its own due to the integral part they play in blockchain development. How data is stored in a blockchain network and how quickly it is retrieved and processed when needed are all dependent on what specific data structure you choose to implement. A blockchain’s basic data structure that is built poorly can result in security vulnerabilities or inefficiencies that can eat away any perceived benefits that blockchain brings to any organization.
Smart Contracts
Smart contracts are one of the most important concepts that make blockchain the dynamic and highly useful technology that it is advertised to be. For starters, smart contracts are digital agreements that are capable of executing themselves once certain parameters are met. The terms of each contract are contained within lines of code. Almost every blockchain process uses smart contracts due to the fact that a large portion of blockchain processes are either transaction- or distribution-based. Learning blockchain not only requires understanding the key concepts mentioned above, but also having the right mindset and patience to grind away on a subject matter that you are unfamiliar with.
